Obama Erases Clinton's Superdelegate Lead

Illinois Senator Surpasses Hillary's Once-Imposing Lead Among Democratic Party Leaders

(CBS/AP)  Barack Obama has taken a slim lead over Hillary Rodham Clinton in the number of Democratic superdelegates Saturday, and won fresh labor backing as elements of the party began coalescing around the Illinois senator for the fall campaign.

According to the latest CBS News tally, Obama now has 274 superdelegates who have pledged their support compared to Clinton's 271.

Overall, Obama now has 1,860 delegates and Clinton has 1,690. (Click here for the full CBS News state-by-state tally.)

Obama added four superdelegates today, when the Utah Democratic Party selected superdelegate add-on Kristi Cumming who (the UT Democratic Party confirmed) is backing Obama. The Illinois Senator also picked up two superdelegates from the Virgin Islands, once of whom had been pledged to Clinton and another from Ohio.

Clinton made up for that loss by acquiring the support of a superdelegate from Massachusetts.

“While the count can change, this is an important symbolic moment,” said CBSNews.com senior political editor Vaughn Ververs. “Obama now leads the Democratic race in every metric - pledged delegates, the popular vote and, now, superdelegates. It takes away one more of Clinton’s dwindling claims on the nomination and solidifies his position as the prohibitive front-runner.”

On Friday Obama picked up the support of 7 superdelegates: Rep Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, Rep. Donald Payne of New Jersey, Rep. Pete Defazio of Oregon, Laurie Weahkee of New Mexico, Wilber Lee Jeffcoat of South Carolina, Ed Espinoza of California and John Gage of Maryland.

Payne, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, had been a Clinton supporter.

"After careful consideration, I have reached the conclusion that Barack Obama can best bring about the change that our country so desperately wants and needs," said Payne, who in a statement said that Clinton is a good friend and he still holds her in high regard.

Payne is one of at least 10 superdelegates who have switched allegiances from Clinton to Obama. None have publicly switched the other way.

Gage is president of the American Federation of Government Employees, a union of 600,000 members who work in the federal and Washington, D.C., governments. The union also announced its support for Obama on Friday.

"Our people, I think, recognize the enthusiasm and vitality behind Senator Obama's campaign," Gage said in a statement.

Obama, who won a convincing victory in the North Carolina primary and lost Indiana narrowly on Tuesday, has been steadily gaining strength in the days since.

"I'm gratified that we've got some superdelegates who are coming our way. And I think we've got a strong case to make that I will be a nominee that can pull the party together and take on John McCain. Our focus has always been on the pledged delegates and just getting the American people to vote for us. And we think that ultimately that should be the strongest measure of who's the nominee," Obama told reporters in Woodburn, Ore.

Clinton also gained a superdelegate on Friday, Rep. Chris Carney of Pennsylvania. His congressional district voted overwhelmingly for the former first lady in the Pennsylvania primary on April 22.

Superdelegates are party leaders who attend the convention delegates by virtue of their positions, and are not selected in primaries and caucuses.

In an interview with National Public Radio, former candidate John Edwards said Clinton has made a compelling case for her candidacy, but "I think it's very hard for her now to make a compelling case for the math. I mean, I think that's the reality of what she's faced with. She knows that. ... It's just very hard to see how the math works."

Edwards has not endorsed either candidate since he dropped out of the race in January.

Both candidates have courted superdelegates in recent days in private meetings at party headquarters not far from the Capitol.

Clinton has shown no signs she is ready to quit the race. She is heavily favored to win Tuesday's primary in West Virginia, and is in the midst of a two-day swing through several other states with upcoming elections.

[jack3213]

BITTERSWEET IS THE PILL THAT ENDURES WHEN THE VOTE IS DONE IN VAIN- AND YET- THOSE WHO WILL VOTE FOR MCCAIN IN THE END,BECAUSE THEIR CHOICE WAS ELIMINATED- SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER FROM THE START- BEFORE THEY THOUGHT GOOD OF CLINTON.OBAMA WILL BE SPOKEN OF AS THE CANDIDATE THAT GOT ''''SO CLOSE''''only BECAUSE OF HIS COLOR, NOT IN SPITE OF ANY QUALIFICATIONS. THAT IS THE DEFINITION OF VAIN.

[sgtrds]

9 actually, pulling him into a virtual tie with what''s her name? The former Democratic presidential candidate? Hillary something or other, wasn''t it?

[sgtrds]

Obama WILL be the next President of the United States of America. Not because of or in spite of his race, but because he is the best choice for the job between him and McCain by far. He is the right person for the right job at the right time for America and the Democratic party.

[jack3213]

OBAMA IS NOT THE RIGHT PERSON IF HE DOES NOT HAVE EXPERIANCE. IT IS THAT SIMPLE AND THAT SERIOUS AT THIS TIME IN OUR COUNTRIES HISTORY.

[thisandthat1]

HERE THEY COME .......

[dreamseeker9]

mortal3 - comments like yours are one of the reasons this country is so screwed. haven''t you learned anything from watching hillary with this kind of dialogue and how catastrophic it is to her NEED to be president so she can pay those foreign corrupt govts their money back with interest? you''re a loon.

[rufisgufis]

OBAMA IS NOT THE RIGHT PERSON IF HE DOES NOT HAVE EXPERIANCE. IT IS THAT SIMPLE AND THAT SERIOUS AT THIS TIME IN OUR COUNTRIES HISTORY.

Posted by JACK3213 at 05:00 PM : May 09, 2008
____________________

SO MUCH FOR EXPERIENCE!

He had a glittering array of experience: Minister to Russia; minister to Great Britain, ten years in the House, five years as Secretary of State, ten years in the Senate, during the time he was in office the nation grew by 33%, but when he was elected president in 1856 James Buchanan soon acquired the reputation as the worst president in American history. So when Abraham Lincoln ran for president he had an easy time, even though his only experience was in the Illinois State Legislature.

By the way, learn how to spell.

[riptide213]

Obama is here to stay.

Obama personifies the future of genuine diversity in 21st Century politics.

Obama is the only dynamic factor in this whole election which makes it more exciting than familiar politics. Refreshing to have a difference.

Is he perfect no way.

Can he learn more sure.

Can he realize enhanced understanding of all Americans concerns no doubt.

Can we change in some diminutive way anything about the way American politics is currently tarnishing our culture Yes We Can.

The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them.
Albert Einstein

Not everything that is faced can be changed. But nothing can be changed until it is faced.
James Baldwin

The task of the leader is to get his people from where they are to where they have not been.
Henry Kissinger

[aldon61]

It is all over but the shouting. I sincerely hope that Clinton cedes without a major breakdown or further damaging her party. Can you say PRESIDENT OBAMA?, I sure can!

[rufisgufis]

Obama WILL be the next President of the United States of America. Not because of or in spite of his race, but because he is the best choice for the job between him and McCain by far. He is the right person for the right job at the right time for America and the Democratic party.

Posted by SgtRDS at 04:58 PM : May 09, 2008
__________________

Probably the best and most accurate post on this site.

[rufisgufis]

GET READY FOR THE MARCH OF THE DELEGATS, AND,

SAY GOODBYE TO CRUELLA DEVILLE.

[ponco seno]

Superdelegates is Bull$hit......They should win by popular votes.

[rufisgufis]

I think Hillary has finally snapped. She is totally delusional. She says she continue to the end; she doesn''t have enough sense to recognize that it was the end than slapped her in her ugly face.

[davidy007]

Its sad that so many ignorant people out there say they will vote for Mccain if Hillary doesn''t win. I guess 4 more years of the same doesn''t matter as much as it did a few months ago....

[bookout2]

You wants some hate mail CBS? You wants some hate
mail Barack Obama? Well, here''s some hate mail for
you CBS and Barack Obama. I hate CBS and Katie
Couric and that negro Barack Obama. You go Hilliary.

[bookout2]

Yes, I will vote for John McCain if Obama wins the
nomination. Get it? I will vote for John Mccain,
if Obama wins the nomination.
And.....I am a black man.

[sgtrds]

ccfsdca

Carter was a better president then Reagan and Mondale certainly would have been too. As for against Bush a mongoloid idiot would have done a better job then Dubya has! In fact the last 7 years a mongoloid idiot HAS been doing the job.

[sgtrds]

Yes, I will vote for John McCain if Obama wins the
nomination. Get it? I will vote for John Mccain,
if Obama wins the nomination.
And.....I am a black man.

Posted by bookout2 at 05:22 PM : May 09, 2008

What in the hell does your race have to do with who''ll you''ll vote for in November? I mean if that''s what''s so important to you that you''ll use it in a post like this then maybe you''d better re-examine why you vote at all.

[joehawkinson]

I wonder why all obvious neocon sh-i-t heads strangely support Hillary and do not like Obama. If there was no other reason that alone would be my reason to vote for Obama.

[cryonbrian]

JACK3213

You are correct and McCain is were he is because he is a white male!

[bgwinnett]

Carter was a better president then Reagan and Mondale certainly would have been too. As for against Bush a mongoloid idiot would have done a better job then Dubya has! In fact the last 7 years a mongoloid idiot HAS been doing the job.

Posted by SgtRDS at 05:22 PM : May 09, 2008

Vockler came too late for Carter didn''t he?

[sgtrds]

Bullshyyyt.. yer not a black guy. I can tell a black guy a mile away. He does the moonwalk..

Posted by lookinup2 at 05:24 PM : May 09, 2008

Now that''s one racial stereotype that I can agree with. White men can''t dance! Except for Fred Astaire that is.

[krenz4]

Its like: "Hi. My name is dumb black guy. Going to Harvard."
Posted by lookinup:
And you people were outraged that Rev. Wright was lying???

[barefootboy9]

Its sad that so many ignorant people out there say they will vote for Mccain if Hillary doesn''''t win. I guess 4 more years of the same doesn''''t matter as much as it did a few months ago....

Posted by davidy007
------------------------------------------
You Obama fans always call anyone that doesn''t agree with you ignorant. I know many college grads that are going to vote McCain. Most of you are not dry behind the ears yet and think you know everything. I look at you as ignorant. Many of you have never served in the armed forces and probably afraid to because you are cowards. I see your type on the streets all the time with a cigarette hanging out your mouth and many of you looking for something to steal. Why is it that 80% of crimes are committed by blacks? I think McCain is going to beat Obama bad and you will be a bunch of sick puppies in November.

[sgtrds]

Vockler came too late for Carter didn''''t he?

Posted by bgwinnett at 05:27 PM : May 09, 2008

True. If he''d been appointed to the Fed at the begging of Carters term then Carter would have won re-election in 1980.

[joehawkinson]

I also wonder why some hardcore neocon idio-ts recently made it their duty to call radios and post on forums pretending as Democrats and threatining to vote for Mccain if Obama wins the nomitaion. Well they were going to vote for Mccain anyways. This is no different than sh-it head Limbaugh calling Republicans voting for Hillary against Obama. If Republican cannot stand the thought of Obama he must be the right guy to vote. Forget all the other good reasons to vote for Obama, that alone is enough for me.

[bgwinnett]

True. If he''''d been appointed to the Fed at the begging of Carters term then Carter would have won re-election in 1980.

Posted by SgtRDS at 05:30 PM : May 09, 2008

He was a victim of circumstances too, what with the hostage crisis.

[sgtrds]

joehawkinson

Bravo! Well said and completely spot on!

[joehawkinson]

I also wonder why some hardcore neocon idio-ts recently made it their duty to call radios and post on forums pretending as Democrats and threatining to vote for Mccain if Obama wins the nomination. Well they were going to vote for Mccain anyways. This is no different than sh-it head Limbaugh calling Republicans to vote for Hillary against Obama. If Republicans cannot stand the thought of Obama and do all these dirty tricks he must be the right guy to vote. Forget all the other good reasons to vote for Obama, that alone is enough for me.

[joehawkinson]

I also wonder why some hardcore neocon idio-ts recently made it their duty to call radios and post on forums pretending as Democrats and threatining to vote for Mccain if Obama wins the nomination. Well they were going to vote for Mccain anyways. This is no different than sh-it head Limbaugh calling Republicans to vote for Hillary against Obama. If Republicans cannot stand the thought of Obama and do all these dirty tricks he must be the right guy to vote for. Forget all the other good reasons to vote for Obama, that alone is enough for me.

[borris007-2009]

joehawkinson

Well said!!

[sgtrds]

He was a victim of circumstances too, what with the hostage crisis.

Posted by bgwinnett at 05:32 PM : May 09, 2008

No he was the victim of a military that was still geared toward fighting a jungle war and was ill-equipped to launch a successful desert rescue of the hostages. Still he stood up like a man and took the hit for the failure, like Kennedy did after the Bay of Pigs and unlike Reagan did after the Beirut barracks bombing by trying to blame it on the Carter administration.

[rufisgufis]

HILLARY JUST DISSED ALL NON-WHITE VOTERS, I.E., ASIAN-AMERICANS, AFRICAN-AMERICANS, NATIVE AMERICANS, LATINO-AMERICANS, PACIFIC ISLANDERS, AND ESKIMOS.

[joehawkinson]

I also wonder why some hardcore neocon idio-ts recently made it their duty to call radios and post on forums pretending as Democrats and threatining to vote for Mccain if Obama wins the nomination. Well they were going to vote for Mccain anyways. This is no different than sh-it head Limbaugh calling Republicans to vote for Hillary against Obama. If Republicans cannot stand the thought of Obama and do all these dirty tricks he must be the right guy to vote. Forget all the other good reasons to vote for Obama, that alone is enough for me. A true Democrat would never even think about voting for Mccain when Mccain promises nothing but a continuation mission of Bush policies. I do not know how these republicans are trying to sell this moronic argument that democrats will vote for Mccain if Obama is nominated. It is false, it is baseless, it is just a spin war waged by neocon sh-itheads.

[obamaslady]

There is no such thing as EXPERIENCE TO BE POTUS! No one has ever had that experience until they ARE the POTUS. The worst problem with the clintons candidacy has been their extremely devisive and derisive GOP Rovian attacks on Obama since they claim to be Dems! Their greed and power hungry goals have apparently led them astray and perhaps they should change their party affilliation as a result. They just cannot accept the fact that they did NOT win this primary and apparently are awaiting a miracle to take Obama out of the race so they can claim the winner status they so hunger for and think they were due! What a sad situation!

[joehawkinson]

also wonder why some hardcore neocon idio-ts recently made it their duty to call radios and post on forums pretending as Democrats and threatining to vote for Mccain if Obama wins the nomination. Well they were going to vote for Mccain anyways. This is no different than sh-it head Limbaugh calling Republicans to vote for Hillary against Obama. If Republicans cannot stand the thought of Obama and do all these dirty tricks he must be the right guy to vote. Forget all the other good reasons to vote for Obama, that alone is enough for me. A true Democrat would never even think about voting for Mccain when Mccain promises nothing but a continuation mission of Bush policies. I do not know how these republicans are trying to sell this moronic argument that democrats will vote for Mccain if Obama is nominated. It is false, it is baseless, it is just a spin war waged by neocon sh-itheads.

[bgwinnett]

SgtRDS -- Ah, the Myth of Reagan and his ****** up economic policies.

[lindaredtail]

abarefootboy9 The very question you just asked tells that you are the ignorant one not everyone else.80% of crimes are committed by black people. Where did that stupid information come from? There is no possible way that can be accurate. There are numerous reasons for crime rates in minority communities. Some of it is poverty. Lack of educational and employment opportunities. Fractured families. And many other sociological issues. Including the fact that many African Americans are convicted because of poor legal representation. Just look at Dallas County Texas. Someone was just released there after 27 years in prison. There are over 200 more cases there for review due to prosecutorial misconduct. All of those cases involve black or poor white defendants. You sound like a racist.

[borris007-2009]

Like Kerry said, the Clintons are HUNGRY FOR POWER!!!

[bgwinnett]

A military dun in by the weather..

Posted by lookinup2 at 05:39 PM : May 09, 2008

Who? The Wehrmacht?... Napoleon?... Or the Spanish Armada? LOL

[joehawkinson]

I keep wondering why some hardcore neocon idio-ts recently made it their duty to call radios and post on forums pretending as Democrats and threatening to vote for Mccain if Obama wins the nomination. Well they were going to vote for Mccain anyways. This is no different than sh-it head Limbaugh calling Republicans to vote for Hillary against Obama. If Republicans cannot stand the thought of Obama and do all these dirty tricks he must be the right guy to vote. Forget all the other good reasons to vote for Obama, that alone is enough for me. A true Democrat would never even think about voting for Mccain when Mccain promises nothing but a continuation mission of Bush policies. I do not know how these republicans are trying to sell this moronic argument that democrats will vote for Mccain if Obama is nominated. It is false, it is baseless, it is just a spin war waged by neocon sh-itheads.

[hungry1968]

I''''''''ve lost all faith in my party and this country. Hillary can''''''''t even point out why she lost North Carolina.. If she even hints to why, she''''''''s cited for playing the race card! RUBBISH!

Dems read between the lines! Obama has done so well because of his lopsided support from BLACKS! But BLACKS ALONE WILL NOT BE ENOUGH TO DELIVER ALL THOSE STATES TO OUR SIDE.. Hell!! it won''''''''t even be close! An Obama nomination is a racist ABOMINATION!

Posted by scorp79 at 05:40 PM : May 09, 2008





After ALL of the race garbage that Obama had to deal with at the hands of the Clinton and McSame campaigns, we''re supposed to feel bad because Hillary said white people are hard working, and inferred that non-whites DON''T work hard?

Please....

If she didn''t try to whip the reverend Wright thing into a major frenzy, I might feel bad for her - might.

But as the saying goes, sleep in the bed that you made.

[bgwinnett]

"I don''''t watch the weather" he says.. "Its fer old people. I''''m a 007."

Posted by lookinup2 at 05:45 PM : May 09, 2008

LOL...Classic.

[obamaslady]

scorp79 at 05:40 PM - Well, I''m not Black as a 65 year old Latino female who originally supported clinton. However, once she LIED over an inconsequential subject, I had to withdraw support for her because I know that when it comes to an important issue I would always wonder if she told me the truth or was she stating another lie. So if you can explain to me how you could continue to support a BLATANT LIAR so that I can understand your reasoning, I will change my support. Can you provide an explanation?

[sgtrds]

SgtRDS -- Ah, the Myth of Reagan and his ****** up economic policies.

Posted by bgwinnett at 05:42 PM : May 09, 2008

It was the Reagan administration that started the idea of trickle down economics by slashing taxes for the rich in an attempt to get them to invest those savings in more growth for America. Of course it flopped big time, but I''ll give Reagan a little credit by going against his word from the 2004 re-election and actually raising taxes again in his 2nd term to try to make up some of the shortfall, which really pis*sed off the budding Neoconservative movement. Once they got one of their boys'', Di*ck Cheney, into the White House pulling Bush''s puppet strings, they tried it again and it''s what''s led to the cr*ap economy we have today. Trickle down has now been tried twice and has failed disastrously twice.

[winnerindia]

Like Kerry said, the Clintons are HUNGRY FOR POWER!!!
-----------------------------
Posted by borris007 at 05:42 PM : May 09, 2008

Dear Sir/Madam,

Clinton is the most corrupt gang in the U.S


Your best frieind and sympathiser of all,
Ramoo Bhalla
Mumbai, India

[liberalme]

Dems read between the lines! Obama has done so well because of his lopsided support from BLACKS! But BLACKS ALONE WILL NOT BE ENOUGH TO DELIVER ALL THOSE STATES TO OUR SIDE.. Hell!! it won''''t even be close! An Obama nomination is a racist ABOMINATION!

Posted by scorp79 at 05:35 PM : May 09, 2008

God is sitting in Heaven scratching his head: "I made man in my image, to be an intelligent being, I gave him a brain to learn how to do for himself, I gave him vision and logic.
I even made them all different so they could learn humility, acceptance, tolerance compassion and understanding---they choose narrow mindedness, bigotry and hate."
"I should have stopped at cows"!

[lindaredtail]

There is a need to take a long look at Hillary Clinton. And also what the Repubs are up to. Look at her associations with conservatives. Scaife is involved in her campaign. Limbaugh and Operation Chaos have been working to aid her candidacy by voting in democratic primaries. Her relationship to Doug Coe and the Fellowship. Her move to the right on some issues. Obliterating Iran isn''t exactly liberal minded is it? What is going on. It''s a question every Democrat should be asking themselves. Has she sold out to get elected?

[bgwinnett]

SgtRDS -- Nixon was the worst though with his Fiat monetary system, to avoid paying for Vietnam giving us inflation.

[sgtrds]

Killed by a sandstorm.. of all things. Not terror.. not a vast left or right wing conspiracy. But a sandstorm.. A charge of a ignorant military man, and his lack of manhoods.

Posted by lookinup2 at 05:44 PM : May 09, 2008

Sad but true donnie. Using equipment designed and built for jungle or mid-Europeon warfare the military lost 8 soldiers due to nothing more really then sand.